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The Utah Advance Health Care Directive serves as a comprehensive tool, designed in accordance with Utah Code Section 75-2a-117, that empowers individuals to make proactive and personalized decisions regarding their health care. It is divided into four pivotal parts, each addressing different facets of health care decision-making. Part I of the directive allows individuals to delegate a trusted person to make health care decisions on their behalf if they become incapable of doing so themselves. This is particularly significant in scenarios where direct communication or decision-making becomes impossible due to the individual's health condition. Part II provides a space for individuals to express their specific health care wishes in writing, ensuring that their preferences for treatment, including end-of-life care, are clearly documented and respected. Part III outlines the procedure for revoking the directive, allowing individuals the flexibility to adapt their instructions as their circumstances or preferences change. Finally, Part IV is designed to give legal effect to the document, including a signature section that acknowledges the individual’s understanding and voluntary creation of the directive. By addressing these critical elements, the Utah Advance Health Care Directive ensures individuals maintain control over their health care decisions, respects their autonomy, and promotes their well-being, even in situations where they may not be able to voice their preferences directly.

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UTAH ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE

(Pursuant to Utah Code Section 75-2a-117)

Part I: Allows you to name another person to make health care decisions for you when you cannot make decisions or speak for yourself.

Part II: Allows you to record your wishes about health care in writing.

Part III: Tells you how to revoke the form.

Part IV: Makes your directive legal.

MY PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name:

Street Address:

City, State, Zip Code:

Telephone:

 

Cell Phone:

Birth date:

PART I: MY AGENT (HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY)

A.No Agent

If you do not want to name an agent: initial the box below, then go to Part II; do not name an agent in B or C below. No one can force you to name an agent.

_______

I do not want to choose an agent.

(Initial)

B.My Agent

Agent's Name:

Street Address:

City, State, Zip Code:

Home phone:

 

Cell Phone:

 

Work phone:

C.Alternate Agent.

This person will serve as your agent if your agent, named above, is unable or unwilling to serve.

Alternate Agent's Name:

Street Address:

City, State, Zip Code:

Home phone:

 

Cell Phone:

 

Work phone:

D.Agent's Authority

If I cannot make decisions or speak for myself (in other words, after my physician or

APRN finds that I lack health care decision making capacity under Section 75-2a-104 of the Advance Health Care Directive Act), my agent has the power to make any health care decision I could have made such as, but not limited to:

Consent to, refuse, or withdraw any health care. This may include care to prolong my life such as food and fluids by tube, use of antibiotics, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), and dialysis, and mental health care, such as convulsive therapy and psychoactive medications.

This authority is subject to any limits in paragraph F of Part I or in Part II of this directive.

Hire and fire health care providers.

Ask questions and get answers from health care providers.

Consent to admission or transfer to a health care provider or health care facility, including a mental health facility, subject to any limits in paragraphs E and F of Part I.

Get copies of my medical records.

Ask for consultations or second opinions.

My agent cannot force health care against my will, even if a physician has found that I lack health care decision making capacity.

E.Other Authority

My agent has the powers below ONLY IF I initial the "yes" option that precedes the statement. I authorize my agent to:

YES _____ NO _____

Get copies of my medical records at any time, even when I

 

can speak for myself.

YES _____ NO _____

Admit me to a licensed health care facility, such as a

 

hospital, nursing home, assisted living, or other facility for

 

long-term placement other than convalescent or

 

recuperative care.

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F.Limits/Expansion of Authority

I wish to limit or expand the powers of my health care agent as follows:

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

G.Nomination of Guardian

Even though appointing an agent should help you avoid a guardianship, a guardianship may still be necessary. Initial the "YES" option if you want the court to appoint your agent or, if your agent is unable or unwilling to serve, your alternate agent, to serve as your guardian, if a guardianship is ever necessary.

YES _____ NO _____

I, being of sound mind and not acting under duress, fraud,

 

or other undue influence, do hereby nominate my agent, or

 

if my agent is unable or unwilling to serve, I hereby

 

nominate my alternate agent, to serve as my guardian in the

 

event that, after the date of this instrument, I become

 

incapacitated.

H.Consent to Participate in Medical Research

 

YES _____ NO _____

I authorize my agent to consent to my participation in

 

 

medical research or clinical trials, even if I may not benefit

 

 

from the results.

I.

Organ Donation

 

 

YES _____ NO _____

If I have not otherwise agreed to organ donation, my agent

 

 

may consent to the donation of my organs for the purpose

 

 

of organ transplantation.

PART II: MY HEALTH CARE WISHES (LIVING WILL)

I want my health care providers to follow the instructions I give them when I am being treated even if my instructions conflict with these or other advance directives. My health care providers should always provide health care to keep me as comfortable and functional as possible.

Choose only one of the following options, numbered Option 1 through Option 4, by placing your initials before the numbered statement. Do not initial more than one option. If you do not wish to document end-of-life wishes, initial Option 4. You may choose to draw a line through the options that you are not choosing.

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Option 1

_______

(Initial)

I choose to let my agent decide. I have chosen my agent carefully. I have talked with my agent about my health care wishes. I trust my agent to make the health care decisions for me that I would make under the circumstances.

Additional Comments: ________________________________________________________

Option 2

_______

(Initial)

I choose to prolong life. Regardless of my condition or prognosis, I want my health care team to try to prolong my life as long as possible within the limits of generally accepted health care standards.

Other: _____________________________________________________________________

Option 3

_______

(Initial)

I choose not to receive care for the purpose of prolonging life, including food and fluids by tube, antibiotics, CPR, or dialysis being used to prolong my life. I always want comfort care and routine medical care that will keep me as comfortable and functional as possible, even if that care may prolong my life.

If you choose this option, you must also choose either (a) or (b), below.

_______

(a) I put no limit on the ability of my health care provider or

(Initial)

agent to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining care.

If you selected (a), above, do not choose any options under (b).

_______

(b) My health care provider should withhold or withdraw

(Initial)

life-sustaining care if at least one of the following initialed

 

conditions is met:

_____

I have a progressive illness that will cause death.

(Initial)

 

_____

I am close to death and am unlikely to recover.

(Initial)

 

_____

I cannot communicate and it is unlikely that my

(Initial)

condition will improve.

_____

I do not recognize my friends or family and it is

(Initial) unlikely that my condition will improve.

_____

I am in a persistent vegetative state.

(Initial)

 

Other: _____________________________________________________________________

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Option 4

_______ I do not wish to express preferences about health care wishes in this

(Initial) directive.

If you do not want emergency medical service providers to provide CPR or other life sustaining measures, you must work with a physician or APRN to complete an order that reflects your wishes on a form approved by the Utah Department of Health.

PART III: REVOKING OR CHANGING A DIRECTIVE

I may revoke or change this directive by:

1.Writing "void" across the form, or burning, tearing, or otherwise destroying or defacing this document or directing another person to do the same on my behalf;

2.Signing a written revocation of the directive, or directing another person to sign a revocation on my behalf;

3.Stating that I wish to revoke the directive in the presence of a witness who is 18 years of age or older; will not be appointed as my agent in a substitute directive; will not become a default surrogate if the directive is revoked; and signs and dates a written document confirming my statement; or

4.Signing a new directive. (If you sign more than one Advance Health Care Directive, the most recent one applies.)

PART IV: MAKING MY DIRECTIVE LEGAL

I sign this directive voluntarily. I understand the choices I have made and declare that I am emotionally and mentally competent to make this directive. My signature on this form revokes any living will or power of attorney form, naming a health care agent, that I have completed in the past.

___________________

________________________________________________

Date

Print name: ________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

City, County, and State of Residence

I have witnessed the signing of this directive, I am 18 years of age or older, and I am not:

1.Related to the declarant by blood or marriage;

2.Entitled to any portion of the declarant's estate according to the laws of intestate succession of any state or jurisdiction or under any will or codicil of the declarant;

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3.A beneficiary of a life insurance policy, trust, qualified plan, pay on death account, or transfer or death deed that is held, owned, made, or established by, or on behalf of, the declarant;

4.Entitled to benefit financially upon the death of the declarant;

5.Entitled to a right to, or interest in, real or personal property upon the death of the declarant;

6.Directly financially responsible for the declarant's medical care;

7.A health care provider who is providing care to the declarant or an administrator at a health care facility in which the declarant is receiving care; or

8.The appointed agent or alternate agent.

_______________________________

_______________________________________

Signature of Witness

Printed Name of Witness

 

_________________________________

______________

_________

_________

Street Address

City

State

Zip Code

If the witness is signing to confirm an oral directive, describe below the circumstances under which the directive was made.

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Form Breakdown

Fact Detail
Governing Law Utah Code Section 75-2a-117
Part I Purpose Names another person to make health care decisions on the form holder's behalf when they can't make decisions or speak for themselves.
Part II Purpose Records the form holder's wishes about health care in writing.
Revocation Methods The form can be revoked by writing "void" across it, destroying it, signing a written revocation, verbally revoking in front of a witness, or signing a new directive.
Making the Directive Legal The form is made legal through the form holder's signature, declaring they understand their choices and are mentally competent to make them. It also revokes any previous living will or health care agent designations.
Agent's Authority The designated agent can make a wide range of health care decisions, including consent to or refusal of health care, hiring and firing health care providers, and admitting the form holder to health care facilities, within any limits set in the directive.
Nomination of Guardian If necessary, the form allows for the nomination of the agent or an alternate agent to serve as guardian in case the form holder becomes incapacitated.

Detailed Steps for Writing Utah Advance Health Care

The Utah Advance Health Care Directive is a powerful document that lets individuals outline their health care preferences and appoint someone to make decisions on their behalf if they're unable to do so themselves. This form ensures that your health care wishes are known and respected, even when you can't communicate them. Whether you’re planning for future health care decisions or updating your current preferences, filling out this form carefully is essential. Here are step-by-step instructions to assist you in completing the Utah Advance Health Care Directive.

  1. Start with Part I to select your health care agent.
    • If you don't want to appoint an agent, initial the box indicating your choice to not choose an agent, then proceed to Part II.
    • To appoint an agent, fill in their complete information including their name, address, and all phone numbers.
    • If you wish, appoint an alternate agent by filling in their information in the same detail.
    • In section D, understand that by not making any mark, you’re giving your agent broad powers to make decisions about your health care as described.
  2. Under Part I, Section E, decide whether your agent will have authority to access your medical records or admit you to a long-term care facility. Initial the 'yes' or 'no' option according to your preference.
  3. In Part I, Section F, specify any limits or expansions to your agent’s authority. Write any specific instructions or restrictions you have for your health care agent.
  4. If applicable, in Part I, Section G, initial the "YES" option if you wish your agent or alternate agent to be nominated as your guardian should a guardianship become necessary.
  5. Consider whether you’d like your agent to have the authority to consent to your participation in medical research (Part I, H) and organ donation (Part I, I). Initial either 'YES' or 'NO' as per your preferences.
  6. Move to Part II to specify your health care wishes, also known as your living will.
    • Select one of the four options by initialing your preferred choice about how you want your end-of-life care to be handled. Only initial one box.
    • If you choose Option 3, also decide on either (a) or (b), specifying under what conditions you want life-sustaining care to be withheld or withdrawn.
  7. In Part III, understand the options for revoking or changing this directive in the future. This section doesn’t require you to fill out anything but informs you of the process should you wish to make alterations.
  8. Complete Part IV to make your directive legally binding.
    • Sign and date the document.
    • Ensure your signature is witnessed by someone who meets the criteria outlined, such as not being related to you or entitled to any part of your estate. The witness must also sign and date the directive.

Once your Utah Advance Health Care Directive is filled out correctly and signed, it’s recommended to share a copy with your appointed agent, alternate agent (if applicable), and your health care providers to ensure your health care wishes are followed. Remember, this form reflects your preferences at the time you complete it, and it can be updated as your wishes or circumstances change.

Common Questions

  1. What is a Utah Advance Health Care Directive?

    An Advance Health Care Directive in Utah allows you to name another person to make health care decisions on your behalf if you're unable to make these decisions yourself. It also enables you to document your health care preferences in writing, revoke the form if necessary, and ensures the legality of these actions in accordance to Utah Code Section 75-2a-117. The directive comprises several parts, including choosing a health care agent, stating your health care wishes, and guidelines for revoking the directive.

  2. Can I choose someone to make health care decisions for me?

    Yes, Part I of the directive allows you to designate an agent to make health care decisions on your behalf when you cannot make them or speak for yourself. This includes decisions about the kind of care you receive or do not receive, hiring or firing health care providers, and even deciding on organ donation, among other things. Your agent's authority can be given limits or expanded based on your preferences.

  3. What happens if I don't want to appoint an agent?

    If you choose not to appoint an agent to make health care decisions for you, you must initial the specified box indicating your decision. This ensures that no one can force you to name an agent against your will. You can then skip to Part II to document your specific health care wishes.

  4. How can I express my health care wishes?

    In Part II of the directive, you have the space to record your health care preferences in detail, particularly concerning end-of-life care. You're presented with several options, from choosing to prolong life to not receiving care that prolongs life. You also have the option not to express preferences about health care wishes within this document.

  5. Can I limit or expand my health care agent's authority?

    Yes, you can specify limits or expand the powers granted to your health care agent. This is done by providing written instructions in the directive. You decide the extent of your agent's authority over your health care decisions, including any restrictions or additional powers you want them to have.

  6. What if I change my mind after signing the directive?

    You can revoke or change your directive anytime. This can be done by writing "void" across the form, destroying it, signing a written revocation, verbally revoking it in the presence of a witness, or by signing a new directive. The most recent directive is the one that will be followed.

  7. How do I make my Advance Health Care Directive legal?

    To ensure your directive is legal, sign the document voluntarily, declaring that you are emotionally and mentally competent to make these decisions. Your signature also revokes any previous directives. The signing of the document must be witnessed by an individual over 18 years old who is not related to you, entitled to any part of your estate, or appointed as your agent.

  8. Can my health care agent consent to organ donation on my behalf?

    Yes, if you have not made arrangements for organ donation, you can authorize your health care agent to consent to the donation of your organs for the purpose of transplantation. This permission can be granted by initialing the appropriate option in the document.

Common mistakes

Filling out the Utah Advance Health Care Directive requires careful attention to detail and a clear understanding of one's wishes for future health care. It is an essential document that outlines your preferences for medical treatment and names someone to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. However, common mistakes can significantly impact the directive's effectiveness and your health care outcome. Here are five such mistakes:

  1. Not appointing an alternate agent. Many people name their preferred health care agent but neglect to choose an alternate agent. This oversight can pose a problem if the primary agent is unavailable, unwilling, or unable to serve at the necessary time. The document allows for the appointment of an alternate agent to ensure that someone is always available to make decisions according to the principal's wishes.
  2. Failing to discuss wishes with the agent. Merely naming an agent is not enough. It is crucial to have detailed conversations with your chosen agent and any alternate agent about your health care preferences. Without these discussions, your agent may not feel confident in making decisions that align with your wishes, especially in stressful or emergency situations.
  3. Lack of specificity in the living will section. The directive provides options for expressing health care wishes, especially regarding end-of-life care. A common mistake is selecting a general preference without offering additional, specific instructions or comments. This lack of detail can leave health care providers and your agent with too much room for interpretation, potentially leading to decisions that do not fully align with your values and wishes.
  4. Not addressing the limitations or expansions of the agent's authority clearly. The form permits you to limit or expand the powers given to your health care agent. Failure to specify any limitations or additional powers can result in a default scope of authority that may not match your preferences. For example, if you have strong feelings about not being admitted to a long-term care facility or about the extent of medical records access, these should be clearly articulated in the directive.
  5. Omitting to sign and date the directive in the presence of appropriate witnesses. For the directive to be legally valid, it must be executed correctly. That includes signing and dating it in the presence of witnesses who meet the criteria outlined in the form. Witnesses must be adults and cannot be related to you by blood or marriage, entitled to any part of your estate, or appointed as your agent. Skipping this step or not adhering to the witness requirements can invalidate the entire document.

These mistakes can all be avoided with thorough reading, careful consideration of one's wishes, and open communication with potential health care agents. Proper execution of the Utah Advance Health Care Directive ensures that your health care preferences are known and respected, regardless of your ability to communicate them in the future.

Documents used along the form

Understanding the Utah Advance Health Care Directive is just one step in comprehensive health care and end-of-life planning. Several other important documents often accompany this form, each serving its distinct purpose in safeguarding a person's wishes and legal rights. Below is a list of other forms and documents that are commonly used alongside the Utah Advance Health Care Directive, succinctly described to provide clarity on their importance and uses.

  • Living Will: A document that specifies what types of medical treatment are desired should the individual become incapacitated. Though the Utah Advance Health Care Directive includes aspects of a Living Will, in other states or situations, a separate document may be necessary.
  • Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care: This legal document allows a person to appoint someone else to make decisions about their health care in the event they cannot make decisions for themselves. It's included in the Utah form but can exist separately as well.
  • General Durable Power of Attorney: Beyond health care decisions, this document designates an individual to make financial and legal decisions on another's behalf.
  • Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order: A doctor's order that prevents medical personnel from performing CPR if the patient's breathing or heartbeat stops. This is separate from the advance directive but is a critical document for those wanting to limit life-sustaining treatments.
  • Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST): Similar to a DNR, this form outlines a broader range of treatments an individual wishes or does not wish to receive at the end of life. This is designed to be followed by all healthcare providers, not just emergency personnel.
  • Organ and Tissue Donation Registration: A form that allows individuals to register as organ and tissue donors upon death. While the Utah Advance Health Care Directive includes an option for this, registering through a state or national registry can ensure wishes are accessible to the appropriate organizations.
  • Last Will and Testament: While not directly related to health care, this document specifies how a person's property and affairs should be handled after death. It's essential for full end-of-life planning.
  • Funeral Planning Declaration: Allows individuals to outline their preferences for funeral arrangements and final disposition of their body. This document can relieve family members of the burden of making difficult decisions during a time of grief.

Together, these documents furnish a comprehensive approach to health care and end-of-life planning. By understanding and utilizing each, individuals can ensure their wishes are known and respected, and that their loved ones are spared from having to make difficult decisions during stressful times. While the Utah Advance Health Care Directive integrates several of these elements into one form, considering each document's role and potential need can provide additional layers of preparedness and peace of mind.

Similar forms

The Utah Advance Health Care Directive shares similarities with various other legal instruments, each designed to safeguard personal choices and rights in different scenarios. Understanding these parallels is vital in appreciating the scope and importance of such documents in managing one's affairs, both medical and beyond.

Similar to a Living Will, the Utah Advance Health Care Directive ensures that an individual's health care preferences are respected when they're unable to communicate due to illness or incapacitation. Both documents allow a person to outline their wishes regarding life-prolonging treatments, offering a guide for families and healthcare providers in making crucial decisions.

Like a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, this directive enables an individual to appoint a trusted agent to make healthcare decisions on their behalf. This element ensures continuity in carrying out one's health care preferences, reinforcing the individual's autonomy by selecting a representative who understands and respects their wishes.

The similarities with a General Durable Power of Attorney lie in the empowerment of an agent to act on one’s behalf. However, while the General Durable Power of Attorney typically covers financial and property decisions, the Utah directive specifies the scope of authority to health care decisions, delineating the importance of dedicated representation in various aspects of one's life.

The directive resonates with the principles outlined in a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order. Both documents can dictate specific medical interventions, such as CPR, to be withheld. The distinction is that while a DNR focuses narrowly on the aspect of resuscitation, the Utah directive encompasses a broader range of medical treatments and decisions.

Echoing a Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) or Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST), this directive goes beyond expressing wishes. It can also influence immediate medical action, especially in emergency situations, giving healthcare providers a clear directive aligned with the patient's values and preferences.

Comparable to a Guardianship Nomination, this directive allows an individual to nominate a guardian in the event of future incapacitation. This proactive step ensures that the person chosen to manage personal affairs and health care decisions, if a guardianship becomes necessary, is someone the declarant trusts.

In the realm of research and innovation, the directive parallels an Informed Consent for Research document. By allowing the appointment of an agent to consent to medical research participation on one's behalf, it recognizes the declarant’s role in contributing to medical science, even when they can't make decisions independently.

Regarding organ donation, the directive aligns with an Organ Donor Registration. It provides a mechanism for expressing one's wish to donate organs posthumously, facilitating life-saving transplants and advancing medical research, furthering the individual's legacy of generosity.

The directive shares objectives with a Psychiatric Advance Directive, specifically around mental health care preferences. Both allow individuals to outline their treatment preferences in advance, including consenting to or refusing specific treatments like psychoactive medications or therapies, fostering respect for patient autonomy in psychiatric care.

Finally, akin to a Revocable Living Trust, the Utah Advance Health Care Directive provides a mechanism for revocation or amendment. This feature ensures the document remains dynamic, adaptable to changing personal circumstances or preferences, thereby honoring the evolving nature of individual autonomy over time.

Dos and Don'ts

When filling out the Utah Advance Health Care Directive, understanding and correctly executing the form is essential for ensuring your health care wishes are honored. Here is a list of do's and don'ts to help guide you through the process:

Do:

  • Read each section thoroughly before filling out the form to understand the scope of decisions being made.
  • Discuss your wishes with the person you intend to name as your agent or alternate agent to ensure they are willing and understand your preferences.
  • Consider all four options in Part II carefully and initial only the option that best represents your wishes regarding your health care.
  • If you have specific wishes, especially those that limit or expand the powers of your health care agent, clearly articulate these in the provided sections.
  • Sign and date the directive in the presence of an appropriate witness who meets the criteria outlined in the form.
  • Review and update the directive periodically, or if your health situation or preferences change.
  • Ensure copies are provided to your health care agent, alternate agent, and primary doctor, and that the original is kept in a safe but accessible place.

Don't:

  • Rush through the form without understanding the implications of each decision.
  • Use initials or ambiguous language when specifying limits or expansions of your agent's authority that could lead to confusion during a critical situation.
  • Forget to initial the box in Part I if you decide not to designate an agent, as this decision is also significant.
  • Name an agent or alternate agent without first having a detailed conversation about your wishes and confirming their willingness to act on your behalf.
  • Leave the form incomplete or fail to sign it, as this could render the directive legally invalid.
  • Assume that by completing this form, all scenarios are covered; remember, some situations may require additional legal documents or clarifications.
  • Forget to communicate your wishes and where the document is stored with close family members, even if they are not named as agents.

Misconceptions

There are several common misconceptions about the Utah Advance Health Care Directive that need clarification:

  • Only the elderly or those with severe health issues need to complete one. This document is beneficial for all adults regardless of their age or health status, as unexpected health care decisions can arise at any time.
  • An agent appointed has immediate decision-making power. The agent's authority to make health care decisions on your behalf only activates if you are unable to make those decisions yourself, as assessed by a physician or APRN under Section 75-2a-104 of the Advance Health Care Directive Act.
  • Filling out the form eliminates personal control over health care decisions. This document actually provides an opportunity to articulate specific health care wishes and limits, ensuring that your preferences are respected even when you cannot communicate them yourself.
  • Health care directives limit emergency medical treatment. Part IV clarifies that having an advance directive does not preclude emergency treatment. It primarily guides long-term care and end-of-life decisions unless specific wishes about emergency treatments, such as CPR, are explicitly stated.
  • If I change my mind, it's too late to modify my directive. You can revoke or amend your directive at any time in several ways: writing "void" across the form, destroying it, signing a written revocation, or creating a new directive, as outlined in Part III.
  • Completing an advance health care directive is a complex and time-consuming process. While the document does require thoughtful consideration, the form itself guides you through the process, outlining clear choices and providing areas for personalized instructions to ensure your health care preferences are accurately recorded and legally acknowledged.

Key takeaways

Filling out and using the Utah Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) is an important step in managing your health care preferences. Here, we provide key takeaways to ensure you understand how to properly complete and utilize your form.

  • Naming an Agent: Part I of the AHCD allows you to appoint another person, referred to as your agent, to make health care decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. It's crucial to choose someone you trust, as they will have the authority to consent to, refuse, or withdraw any type of health care for you.
  • Option to Not Appoint an Agent: If you prefer not to appoint an agent, the form provides a specific area to initial, indicating your decision to manage your health care decisions without delegating this authority to someone else.
  • Documenting Health Care Wishes: Part II enables you to express your preferences about your health care directly within the document. This includes your wishes concerning life-prolonging treatments, such as mechanical ventilation or feeding tubes, under various conditions.
  • Revocation and Amendments: The AHCD outlines several methods for revoking or changing the directive, ensuring flexibility to update your preferences as circumstances change. These include writing "void" across the form, physically destroying it, or creating a new directive.
  • Legal Requirements: To make your AHCD legally binding, Part IV outlines specific steps, including your signature in the presence of a witness who meets certain criteria. This process helps to validate the directive and confirms your mental competence to make such decisions.
  • Guardianship Nomination: The directive gives you an opportunity to nominate your agent or alternate agent as your guardian, should a guardianship become necessary. This part is crucial for ensuring that someone you trust can make decisions on your behalf if the court finds it necessary.

Understanding these key components of the Utah Advance Health Care Directive can empower you to make informed decisions about future health care scenarios, ensuring that your preferences are respected and followed.

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